Sometimes time moves incredibly fast, and a single day can pass in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, the Ancestors on Mount Arreat, who enjoyed a spectacle, were squatting one by one on the plaza outside the Elder Sanctuary, waiting for the show to begin.
The contents of a Nephalem Rift didn't necessarily require a grand celebration to be projected; as long as Mount Arreat permitted it, it was possible. Thus, they were all waiting to watch the long-awaited Rift content unfold.
Bul-Kathos was seated cross-legged on the steps of the Elder Sanctuary, a pile of strong liquor beside him. Although the new recruits and pre-reserve recruits weren't strictly worthy of his personal attention, the Team Rift wouldn't stop others from joining midway.
So, his presence here was a kind of insurance, as it would be somewhat painful to watch three Barbarian saplings wither away. As for the two who had not yet passed their trials, their death was simply their fate. Not even the masters of those Legacy Rifts could change what happened inside; there was nothing anyone could do.
Jessica Jones took a deep breath, clutching the hand axe in her grip. Today was the first step of her trial, the one that might very well represent her death. Jessica tightened her hold on the axe, steadying her mind.
She was well aware that those powerful souls didn't think highly of her, and she knew she would be looked upon with distaste. However, she had a pragmatic outlook: she had chosen to seize this chance for redemption, and if she died, there was no one to blame but herself.
Luke, standing on the other side, was filled with worry, glancing at Jessica every now and then, but quickly pulling his gaze back. The Fell Cleaver in his hand trembled slightly with the tension in his arm, the broad side of the cleaver occasionally hitting Rumlow's calf.
Rumlow, meanwhile, was gripping a bottle of liquor in one hand and hooked the other arm over Matthew's shoulder, pressing half his weight onto the younger man. Strapped to his waist was a massive two-handed maul that looked like a single solid block of metal. Haedrig had thoughtfully wrapped the handle with a layer of white cloth, though the white would soon be stained dark red in battle. The weapon's name was also very simple: the Two-Handed Maul.
Rumlow had forgotten to tell Haedrig what kind of weapon he needed. Although most Barbarians preferred dual-wielding heavy weapons, Rumlow had only given Haedrig one piece of material. Therefore, Haedrig had added some of his own metal reserves to forge this huge two-handed weapon. Aside from the slight feeling of unbalanced weight distribution when it hung from his waist, Rumlow loved the plain, imposing maul. The whooshing sound it made every time he swung it gave him a thrill. The hammer's length had been specially adjusted by Haedrig to perfectly fit Rumlow's physique. As a skilled blacksmith, this level of attention was part of his professional craft; Haedrig never failed to honour a trust.
Matthew stood with a basic Hand Axe hanging from his waist, his face calm. He didn't show any reaction despite Rumlow pressing down on his shoulder. To him, having someone else for company was the best thing, as it meant he wouldn't miss any orange light flashing on the ground. God only knew why he couldn't sense anything from those Legendary items besides the sound they made when they appeared.
As for Kaecilius, he stood a little further away, holding his axe like a wooden post, not moving a muscle. His mind was still consumed by resentment toward his Master; he hadn't recovered even after a night had passed.
"Luke, your state right now isn't good. I don't want to have to babysit you in there." Rumlow took a swig of liquor, commenting casually. The feeling of the Fell Cleaver knocking his calf was not pleasant at all.
"I know." Luke looked at Jessica again, then took a deep breath to maintain his calm. Then he opened his large eyes wide, looking ready for battle.
"Perhaps we can have a contest to see who contributes more in the Rift. I've changed quite a bit since last time." Matthew's strength had increased significantly, and he felt he should now be able to defeat Rumlow. After all, his body had been adjusted in the direction of a Nephalem; he was stronger now.
"You seem much more confident, which is good." Rumlow released Matthew's shoulder and straightened up. The head of the Two-Handed Maul knocked against the ground with a dull, unpleasant thud. Rumlow handed the liquor bottle to Matthew and cracked his neck, the sound of bone grating against bone having a distinct feel to it.
"Alright, no more talking! Let's start now." Volusk appeared before the group, speaking lazily. Other than battle, only beautiful women could command his full attention.
As Volusk spoke, Kanuk and Olarac also approached. Their respective heirs were entering their Rifts, so they naturally couldn't leave the handling of the event to Volusk. As the former Immortal King, no one would question Volusk hosting the event. It wasn't an important matter, so there was no need for Bul-Kathos to personally announce the start. If the soul that controlled the Nephalem Obelisk hadn't followed them, Volusk wouldn't even have bothered with this.
"Go on, girl." Olarac said casually, not bothering with words like "come back alive." Instead, after opening the portal, he tossed Jessica half a roasted beef leg. It was leftovers from the previous day.
"If I make it out, I'll bring you my favourite food for the next feast." Jessica replied boldly, catching the food Olarac threw, then strode confidently into the portal.
"Luke, do I need to remind you again?" Rumlow's tone was impatient.
"No, I'm ready." Luke fixed his gaze on the huge projection that appeared in the sky, then looked at Volusk.
"You better take this seriously, Luke. Even if she comes back, if you die in there, it still won't lead to anything." Matthew's tone was calm, but his words were sharp.
"Little Wizard, after you come out, maybe you'll understand how carefree it is to be a Barbarian." Kanuk said with a curled lip, then opened his portal.
Kaecilius walked in with a dark, brooding expression.
"I don't like gloomy guys, do you, Kvalkehk?" Kanuk said to the old general who was watching the situation. Sombre people always reminded them of that wretch Nilathak.
Volusk didn't bother to say more. He slammed his fist heavily against a towering stone pillar outside the Elder Sanctuary, and a golden portal manifested.
Then he disappeared.
For Volusk, watching these boring affairs was less satisfying than returning to his throne and reminiscing about the warmth of the past.
"Let's go. This is an important step for us to get stronger." Rumlow grabbed Luke and Matthew and walked straight into the Rift. Matthew quickly downed the last of the liquor in the bottle.
Historically, Talic was usually the leader among the three ancestors. After all, he was calmer than Madawc and more resolute than Korlic.
(End of Chapter)
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